A sweet story about love and community that will melt your heart.
Feature image credit: Allen & Unwin
Australian author Sophie Cunningham is best known for her picture book, Tilly and Jellybean. She is also a Member of the Order of Australia for her contributions to literature.
Illustrator Anil Tortop has collaborated on all three of Cunningham’s picture books. Her pictures are instantly recognisable. From the slightly embellished front cover showing a mother kangaroo staring adoringly at her joey to the beautifully detailed illustrations throughout the book, each one is full of colour and perfectly tells the story.
Mango and Hopscotch is about a mother and her joey, living peacefully with their mob in a tropical rainforest. One day the rains come and as the waters rise, they find themselves fleeing for their lives as their home becomes flooded.
Tortup’s illustrations give the animals human expressions and feelings. We as readers, become invested in their safety and cheer them along as they battle the floodwaters.
In Australia, we know about the devastating affects our climate has on its occupants, both human and animal. This book shows the quiet calm of the townspeople as they prepare for the worst. Mango and Hopscotch looks at how we all pull together in these hard times making sure we survive and begin again if necessary.
This is a lovely story for very young children, purely for the narrative and illustrations, but it is also a good starter for discussions around climate change, the effect of humans on our planet, and the survival of both humans and animals.
Mango and Hopscotch is a heartwarming story about being brave, pulling together in the hard times, and the love of a mother for her child.
Reviewed by Sue Mauger
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Allen & Unwin
Released: July 2025
RRP: $19.99
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